Eating gluten-free: Celiac sufferers have more options than ever

When Susan Pieper was diagnosed with celiac disease, a genetic disorder that causes an autoimmune response to gluten, she struggled to find safe foods and recipes.

Even when she located these gluten-free items at the store, it wasn't always a pleasant experience. The running joke at the time in the celiac disease community was, "Do we eat the box or the contents?"

That was 1995.

Now you can Google "gluten-free recipes" and be bombarded with 16 million results. Nationally recognized products boldly proclaim, "gluten free" from the shelves. Restaurants, from local Las Cruces eateries to massive chains, stamp the familiar GF next to safe items. Retail bookshelves are packed with gluten-free recipes.

"You can even get 'Gluten-Free for Dummies,'" Pieper said.

Yet with all this increased awareness and availability, there are still plenty of obstacles facing those with celiac disease, once diagnosed.

Foremost is a psychological component.

"If you get diagnosed, it's a real shock," said Pieper, an affiliate of the Celiac Disease Foundation, who holds regular local support group meetings. "First is the restaurant thing. Then, how do you handle Thanksgiving. Holidays are a very emotional thing."

She said it helps to communicate with others with celiac disease — whether at a meeting or on an Internet discussion board — to share everything from coping to cooking tips.

There are more gluten-free options available at retailers, but that can prove tricky to navigate.

Advertisement

Increasingly, labeling laws require more transparency from food manufacturers. Pieper acknowledged that this has helped when it comes to identifying products with wheat. But just because wheat is absent doesn't always mean gluten (the real culprit) is too.

"I live by that rat poison concept," she said, referring to gluten. "Even a little bit is harmful."

Pieper is among many in the celiac disease community bothered by what they see as a plodding Food and Drug Administration. According to the Houston Chronicle, Congress passed a law in 2004 requiring the FDA to define gluten-free, by 2008. The FDA still has issued no ruling.

Not only does this affect those with celiac disease, but also another estimated 18 million Americans with gluten sensitivity.
Tobe Turpen, a local real estate agent, thinks he's one of the 18 million.

"For the last 15, 16 years, I didn't feel well," he said. "I was functioning, but I didn't feel 100 percent."

He has been tested for an array of health problems. He underwent diabetes testing twice. Turpen tried different diets.

Nothing helped.

In April he tried a gluten-free bagel and noticed an almost immediate change. Turpen has avoided gluten since and feels much better. His gluten reaction isn't as severe as somebody with celiac disease, because he can tolerate some forms in small amounts. That is not unusual.

Dr. Alessio Fasano, medical director of the Center for Celiac Research at the University of Maryland, described the difference between celiac disease and gluten sensitivity as a digestive spectrum. At one end are those that have no reaction to gluten, at the other are those with celiac disease. Those with gluten sensitivity are in the middle somewhere.

They also don't suffer the long-term problems those with celiac disease do.

Since his discovery, Turpen is surprised at the number of people he has meet with the same problem. To help, he published a web page - glutenfreerealtor.com - with a list of local safe restaurants and monthly recipes.

"My teenage daughters made fun of my food at first," he said. "Now they eat all my stuff."

James Staley can be reached at jstaley@lcsun-news.com; (575) 541-5476

What is gluten?

A protein found in wheat, barley and rye, it gives cohesiveness to dough and structure to food items, particularly bread.

Celiac disease Q&A

What is it?

A genetic disorder that causes an autoimmune response to gluten, which is found in wheat and other grains. The autoimmune reaction causes destruction of the villi, tiny intestinal projections that are critical to proper digestion.

Celiac disease can be life-threatening if left untreated. Those with the disease are more likely to suffer malabsorption-related problems, such as osteoporosis, tooth enamel defects, nervous system disease, pancreatic disease, internal hemorrhaging, organ disorders and gynecological disorders.

What treatments are available?

Just one. Celiacs can lead healthy lives by following a strict gluten-free diet. That means avoiding wheat, rye and barley and any products derived by those grains. There are no drugs or cure.

— The University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research

Celiac disease, by the numbers

3 million: Estimated number of Americans suffering from the disease

$5,000-$12,000: Average yearly cost of the misdiagnosis, per person, not including lost work time

95: Percentage of celiacs who are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed

6-10: Time, in years, the average person waits to be diagnosed

0: Pharmaceutical cures for celiac disease

— National Foundation for Celiac Awareness

Gluten sensitivity

Based on symptoms, gluten sensitivity and celiac disease are nearly the same. Both are the result of immune responses to gluten.

However, the celiac disease immune response damages the small intestine, which can lead to other autoimmune disorders, osteoporosis, infertility, neurological conditions and sometimes cancer.

Gluten sensitivity is not associated with those serious conditions. Sufferers typically test negative for celiac disease in diagnostic blood tests. They also show no damage to the small intestine. It's estimated that six percent of the population suffers from gluten sensitivity.

Here's a list of some area restaurants that offer gluten-free items. Most restaurants have items you can order that could be gluten-free (though contamination is possible), as do most stores. There are cell phone apps available from Apple and the Android market to locate gluten-free fare.

Local restaurants

Aqua Reef Restaurant

De La Vegas Pecan Grill

La Iguana Restaurant

La Posta de Mesilla

Pho Saigon

Local bakeries

Cupcake Hut & Rock n Roll Gift Shop

Gloriana's Gluten Free Gourmet (farmer's market)

Green Door Bake Shop

National chains*

Chili's Grill & Bar

Outback Steakhouse

RedBrick Pizza

Uno Chicago Grill

* Due to contamination possibility, national chains' websites do not guarantee that any items will be completely gluten-free

Specialty grocers

Mountain View Market

Toucan Market

— Sources: Restaurant employees, online databases, and Tobe Turpen

Surprise!

Here's a partial list of less-obvious items that could contain gluten. Many of these items could use some grain derivative as a thickener or filler. However, there are often gluten-free options available.

PARIS (AP) — Bye, New York! Ciao, Milan! Bonjour, Paris! The world's largest traveling circus of fashion editors, models, buyers and journalists has descended on the French capital, clutching their metro maps and city guides, to cap the ready-to-wear fashion season. Full Story